Illuminated-sign flashing mechanism



Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,820

P. H. SCHNORMEIER ILLUMINATED SIGN FLASHING MECHANISM Filed March 18, 1927 Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,693,820 PATENT: OFFICE,

rAu I-I. SCHNORMEIER, or HUBBARD, IOWA.

ILLUMINATEDQSIGN FLASHING MECHANISM.

Application filed March 18, 1927. vSerial No."1 76,561; 1

This invention relates to that class ofilluminated display signs having a small number of incandescent light bulbs and a great number of reflector plates and is particularly adapted to be used with the illuminated sign disclosed in my application for United States Letters Patent filed February 21, 1927, and bearing the Serial No. 169,823.

The principal object of this inventionlis to I provide a flashing efl'ecto't illuminated signs without extinguishing the electric lamps in the sign. t v 2' I More specifically, the object of this invention is to provide a sign flashing mechanism by passing a blind or blinds over-the incandescent lamps. Y

i A further object of this invention is to provide a-sign flashing mechanism that will operate a flashing eliect. in any desired duration of time. h r H A still further object is to provide a sign flashing mechanism that is easy to install and positive in its action. i

r A still further object is to providea sign flashing mechanism that is economical in manufacture and durable and economical in .USQ. I

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

-My invention consists in the construction,v

ferent way of arranging the blinds on'the end- I less belt and shows all of the incandescent light'bul'bs in the sign in blinded conditionu Fig. 4: is another diagrammatical view of the same arrangement of the blinds as shown in Fig. 3 but in a position whereby the incandescent lamps are not in a blinded condition.

The illuminated signs that use a small number of incandescent lamps and a. great numb-er of reflector plates are more economical in manufacture and usethan any other type of sign using no reflector plates and a great number of incandescent light bulbs but their disadvantage to complete with other typeset signs is their inabilityto produce a flashing efi'ect. They are unintermittentlyilluminated andtherefore do not have the attractive pow ers of the flash illuminated-gsigns; I have overcome this unintermittent illuminated feature as will beappreciated by'those familiar with the art. n g i The numeral 10 designatesa sign housing having the sides or faces'll and 12. The wall 13 divides the housing into twoseparate compartments and thereby createsa two-faced sign. painted letters or other characters asldesired. These characters are studdedwith the bullseyes ltarranged in somewhat close association in theoutline of the letters. By this construction itwill readily be seen that it illumination is produced back of the bulls-ey es the complete sign will be illuminated; .Di

On the outside of each. face may be rectly back of. each bulls-eye and secured to the. wall 13 by a suitable means is a bracket 15. The numeral 16 designates a reflector secured at the free end ofeaeh of the brackets 15.- lMounted in the bottom and insideof the housing 10 are the incandescent light bulbs 17.

angle they will intercept the light rays from the incandescent light bulbs and reflect'it If thereflectorv plates 16 are at the proper f laterally to their respectivebums-eyes. The I light rays emanating from eachof the bulls- 7 eyes gives the appearance at a distance ofa separate source of illumination back of ,each bulls eye. By this construction. a single incandescent lamp'is sufiicient for one letteror characted. Permanently mountedin the bottom and at eachend of the said housing 10 is a bearing member 18. In one of these bearing members is rotatably mounted the shaft 19. Permanently secured to the shaft 19 and resting on its bearing member '18 is thesprocket wheel 20. Permanently secured to the shaft 19 is the worm gear 21 in operative engagementwith' the worm gear 22 secured to the armature shaft 23 of the small electric motor 24. Mounted in the other bearing member 18 at the other end of the housing 10 is the shaft 25. Secured to this shaft is the wheel 26. Embracing the sprocket wheel 20 and the wheel 26 is the endless belt 27. This belt is of the ordinary drive belt construction having holes therein for embracingthe teeth" of the sprocket wheel 20. ;The numeral 28 designates blinds of L construction secured at any desired position on the endless belt27.

The numeral 29 designates a guide secured by less belt will be drawn over the various light bulbs.

. Any desired Olfdlf or time "of the flashing eflect maybe easily obtained by the placemerit in various positions of the blinds on the 'thesniail electricfmotor.

. "blinds are with even regularity endless belt. [In Fig. 2 the blinds are all placed adjacent each other thereby first 'having the complete sign in unilluminated state and then s elling' out oneiletter at'a time until the comp ete is illuminated. the {laced evenly ,apart as shown in 1g. 4 the sign -will go off and on Fig Band i The'operatrnospeed bl-the sign may be easily regula teti regulatingthe speed of The Fmec'hanism oft invention "is very "simple and can be used to 'atlvantage in signs 'ha-vingthe maximum :atuount of lamps. By

I 'niyconstruction the lanips are 'continuously lit duringthe operation of the sign andazre not fturiiedon and ofi' as is "the case with or dinai i'flash illuminated signs. A iii-n fits iIIIiniination.

turned on :and oj fi continuously will ndt last as long Land willtsike more electricity to opcrate it than :ailamp that "is uninterrupted in I [invention maybeeasily installed in y iiiow oi the {market or .may"be*used as standard equ pment on newsignsgding into 7 (Some changes may be made in'theconstruc tion a antjljarrangemeiit got my improved'j illmninated sign flashing mechanism without 7 departing fi' om the real spirit and purpose of my invention and it'is Iny intentionto covrb my claims anyamoiiified lforms of struc- V ture or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonal'aly inclmled within their I claim-- .1. In a device of the class described, a housing having openings in its side, a lamp in :saidhuusing, reflector plates in said hous ing for reflecting light from said lamp through ea-id openings, an endless belt rotatably mounted in said housing, blinds 'secured to said endless belt and capable pass 'ing between the lamp and reflector plates when the belt is r0tated,'guide menibers in said housingin engagement with said blinds,

and a prime mover in operative engagement With said belt. f 2. In a device of the class described, "a

housing, having 0 enings in twoof its sides in the out-lines of 4! 1e letterorcfharacter to be displayed, a webbing in said housing, a 11i ralitvo'tf lamps in said housing and on each side of said webbing, reflectorssecured "to each side of said ivebbin for "receiving light 'fronisaid lamps and diverting itfth-rough said openings,-a Wheel rotatably mounted adj acent each endof said webbing, an endless belt embracing said wheels and passing on each side ofsaidWebbing, Idlinlls secured to 7 said belt capable of passing *between said lanips and reflectors on both sides of said webbing, and saidwheels.

as V a means for "actuating one of "3. In a device of theclassdescribed, a

*housine having openingsin one offits sides in the outlines of "the letter or character 'to 'be "displayed, a "lamp insaid housing, reflector plates in said housing for reflecting light from said lamp through said Vopenings, an

endless belt rotatably i'nounteiilih said housing, a guide well, a member of'angularnform secured toisaidlbelt'having oneofits portions capable of passing between the lamp and reflectors "when the saidbeltis rotated and its other portion slidably engagin said "guide,

and a means "for rotating saidelt.

PAUL ,SCHNQRMEI'ER 

